Navigating the Fog of Change™: Lessons from 2025 to Leadership in 2026

We’re not lacking information—we’re overwhelmed by it.
In this special episode of Focus on Growth: Navigating the Fog of Change™, Tom Doorley looks back on the most important insights from his 2025 conversations with CEOs, founders, board members, and change leaders—and asks a critical question:

How do we lead effectively in 2026 when uncertainty isn’t going away?

The fog of change—driven by AI, geopolitics, demographics, and media—is not temporary. It is massive, fast, and permanent. Traditional long-range planning no longer works.
In this episode, Tom shares a practical leadership framework for this new reality, including:

·      Why strategy today is about being ready, not right
·      How to build a focused Leader’s Change Agenda
·      The importance of “lookouts” to sense danger and “scouts” to seek opportunity
·      Why trust and belief—not compliance—determine whether change succeeds
·      How boards and advisors can move from oversight to real insight

The takeaway is simple but powerful:
We can’t eliminate uncertainty, but we can create the trust and clarity needed to decide, act, and adapt.

If you lead an organization through constant change, this episode will help you navigate the fog—and make 2026 a year of progress, not paralysis.

Thank you to all of our esteemed guests this past year, your insights and conversations were incredibly valuable.

Seeing Through the Fog: Why Citizen Knowledge Matters with Jeff Jacoby Guest: Jeff Jacoby | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-jacoby-76616929

From Oversight to Insight—or Irrelevance: The Board’s Challenge

Guest: Dave Rosenblum | https://www.linkedin.com/in/drosenblum1

Guest: Bob Kueppers | https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-j-kueppers-1218a228

A Conversation With A Change Master with Rick MaurerGuest: Rick Maurer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/rimaurer

How a Small Company Fights Its Dragons Guests: Tom and Monica Rogan | https://goodnowfarms.com

Making AI Work with John DonovanGuest: John Donovan | https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndonovanatt

Cascading The Message To The Front Lines with George YoungGuest: George Young | https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgehyoung

The Board As Your Compass with Dr. Peter Crow

Guest: Dr. Peter Crow | www.petercrow.com

The Founder's Shift From Builder To Leader with Don PlumleyGuest: Don Plumley | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dplumleyLeadership Is Personal with Jennifer Barron

Guest: Jennifer Barron | Executive Coach and Advisorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjbarron/

A Call For Leadership with Cordell Bennigson

Guest: Cordell Bennigson | https://www.linkedin.com/in/cordellbennigson

Navigating The Fog of Change: Massive, Fast, Forever—Now What?

Hosted by Tom Doorley | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomdoorley

Leadership, Growth, & Building Great Teams — with Kate Morgan

Guest: Kate Morgan | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-morgan-62793576

Navigating M&A: Time To Pivot — with Barry WinerGuest: Barry Winer | https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrywiner

Gambling On Innovation — with Darrell VelegolGuest: Darrell Velegol | https://www.knowlecular.com

Navigating Your Strategy Roadblocks — with Gregg Makuch

Guest: Gregg Makuch | https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggmakuch

Empowering a High-Performance Sales Team — with Doug C. BrownGuest: Doug C. Brown | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougbrown123

Assembling Tomorrow: Navigating The Fog of Change with Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter

Guest: Scott Doorley | https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdoorley

Guest: Carissa Carter | https://www.linkedin.com/in/carissalcarter

Spirit of America: Entrepreneurship With Purpose with Jim HakeGuest: Jim Hake | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-hake-50297435

Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.To learn more about Sage Partners, visit: https://www.sagepartners.net

Seeing Through the Fog: Why Citizen Knowledge Matters

“In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”

— George Washington

In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change™, I’m joined by Jeff Jacoby, veteran columnist for The Boston Globe and author of the influential Arguable column. Together we dive into a core challenge facing American democracy today: citizens who vote, speak, and form opinions without truly knowing the facts.

Jeff and I explore why an informed citizenry is not just a civic virtue — it’s a survival skill in times of massive, fast, and continuous change. In an era when social media, sound bites, and partisan messaging drown out nuance, the responsibility to dig deeper falls squarely on all of us.

We discuss how political narratives can mislead even well-intentioned voters. One striking case: during the 1992 presidential election, strategist James Carville framed the race around a single line — “It’s the economy, stupid!”

A brilliant and winning slogan. But wrong.

The recession was over. The economy had already begun to rebound.

When messaging eclipses reality, citizens make poor decisions — and democracy pays the price.

In this conversation, we examine:

· Why popular media often oversimplifies complex truths

· How voters can discipline themselves to look beyond headlines

· The danger of letting emotion replace evidence

· Practical steps for becoming the “enlightened public opinion” Washington saw as essential

If leadership is the light that cuts through the Fog of Change™, then informed citizens are the fuel that keeps that light burning.

To get Jeff's Globe columns by email, sign up here: https://jeffjacoby.com/list_subscribe.php

To subscribe to the Arguable newsletter, go here: https://bit.ly/ArguableNewsletter

To email Jeff directly, the address is [email protected]

Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.

To learn more about Sage Partners, visit: https://www.sagepartners.net/

From Oversight to Insight—or Irrelevance: The Board’s Challenge | Navigating the Fog of Change™When the fog of change thickens—technology upheaval, geopolitical shocks, shifting expectations—the easy temptation is for boards to retreat into oversight. But that’s not enough; not anymore.In this episode of Focus on Growth, Tom Doorley of Sage Partners is joined by governance experts Bob Kueppers (former leader of Deloitte’s Director Series and Sage Partner) and Dave Rosenblum (public company director at Hanmi Bank and Sage Partner) to explore what separates boards that merely watch from those that have impact.They discuss:How boards can become true partners to management in setting a Leader’s Change Agenda.The twin roles every board must balance: Lookouts who spot risk and Scouts who find opportunity.What to do when a “fair-weather CEO” faces storm conditions.

Why “noses in, fingers out” isn’t enough in a world of perpetual disruption.How boards and management can build the trust and collaboration needed to see—and act—through the fog.The message is clear: In times of massive, fast, and forever change, boards that only oversee risk irrelevance. The best ones turn oversight into insight—and into impact.

When change feels constant and chaotic, how do leaders find clarity?In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change™, Tom Doorley talks with Rick Maurer, a true master of change, about how to move people from resistance to commitment—and lead with trust, clarity, and courage when the world won’t stop changing.

To learn more about Rick and his work, visit: https://rickmaurer.com

Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.

Navigating the Fog of Change™: How a Small Company Fights Its Dragons

In this episode of Focus on Growth, I speak with Tom and Monica Rogan, founders of Goodnow Farms Chocolate, about the realities of leading a small business through today’s fog of change — where uncertainty, volatility, and disruption test every assumption.

From Hollywood and real estate to handcrafting award-winning chocolate on their Massachusetts farm, the Rogans share how their “brand mindset” drives quality, transparency, and purpose — from bean to bar. Their story is one of resilience and relationships: direct ties with cacao farmers, constant adaptation to climate and supply shocks, and a deep commitment to craft and community.

We explore how a small company can face “dragons” like climate change, tariffs, and economic instability — not with scale or capital, but with clarity of purpose, flexibility, and courage. Their journey offers lessons for every leader navigating uncertainty:

Build a brand from the inside out.

Invest in trusted relationships that endure disruption.

Stay flexible — move forward in small, deliberate steps.

Keep the mission alive, even when the path ahead is unclear.

As Monica says, “We’re food, not candy.” And that distinction — of meaning, integrity, and intent — is what defines lasting brands in the fog of change.To learn more about Goodnow Farms Chocolate and to try some for yourself, visit: https://goodnowfarms.comNavigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.

In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change, I’m joined by John Donovan — former CEO of AT&T, investor in AI and technology firms, and now a board member of U.S. Steel. We explore how AI has evolved over the past year, the hype versus the reality, and why leaders must move beyond “doing the same with less” to finding new opportunities for growth. John shares insights on the critical role of CEOs in owning AI strategy, process transformation, , and the responsibility leaders have to reskill workforces and shape society through massive change.

Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.

How do leaders cut through the fog of digital transformation?

In this episode of Navigating The Fog of Change™, George Young of Rockwell Automation and I explore why proof of value matters more than proof of concept, how to cascade change from the C-suite to the shop floor, and a truly Big Idea: what it will take to reskill people in an AI-driven world.  Practical insights, real examples, and a positive outlook on the future of work.

Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.

In this episode of Navigating The Fog of Change™, Tom Doorley of Sage Partners is joined by global governance expert Dr. Peter Crow for a compelling conversation about the board's role in times of rapid and disruptive change.Together, they explore:• How boards can help leadership shape the narrative during uncertainty, to create the Leader’s Change Agenda• The importance of establishing a clear North Star and a flexible change agenda• Why boards must balance risk protection and opportunity seeking• The concept of board members as Lookouts and Scouts — identifying danger and opportunity alike• Why only a small percentage of boards are truly “change-ready” — and how to join the 5% ClubWhether you're a board director, CEO, or emerging leader, this episode offers valuable insights into how governance can steer organizations through the fog — toward clarity, resilience, and growth.Guest: Dr. Peter Crow – Global governance advisor | www.petercrow.comHosted by Tom Doorley, Sage Partners | www.sagepartners.netEdited and produced by Rei Haycraft#Governance #Leadership #Boards #ChangeManagement #Strategy #Opportunity

In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change, I’m joined by Don Plumley, our COO at Sage Partners and leader of our Venture Practice. We explore one of the most critical—and challenging—transitions in the life of a growing company: the founder’s shift from hands-on builder to strategic leader. Don shares insights from years of guiding young companies through this evolution, highlighting the mindset, structures, and team dynamics that make or break the transition. If you’re leading a growth-stage business—or advising one—you won’t want to miss this conversation.Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.

You can learn more about Don and his work at ⁠https://www.sagepartners.net/donald-plumley⁠

Leadership Is Personal with Jennifer BarronNavigating The Fog of Change | Episode 3In this episode of Focus on Growth, Tom Doorley is joined by leadership coach Jennifer Barron to explore how leaders can guide their teams—and themselves—through today’s uncertainty.

They discuss how to:

• Let go of the need to “know”
• Stay calm and focused under pressure
• Reframe stress through mental fitness
• Take responsibility for your own mindset and happiness

Practical, personal, and powerful—this episode helps you lead with clarity through the fog of change.Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.

#FogOfChange #Leadership #FocusOnGrowth #ChangeManagement #MentalFitness